Burlington hoarding case remains unresolved

No resolution yet in backyard debris case at Dodds Court

Feb. 11, 2014

Burlington homeowners Arthur and Jeannie Vento of Dodds Court are facing a court battle as the debris in and around their home has been the subject of zoning violations with the city of Burlington since 2006. The Ventos have failed to comply with orders to clean it up and the case will go to Environmental Court in what city officials say is a hoarding situation. / EMILY McMANAMY/FREE PRESS

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Free Press Staff Writer

The city of Burlington’s effort to resolve an apparent case of hoarding outside a home at 164 Dodds Court continues to dangle in court.

The city and the home’s occupants failed to reach a settlement during a Vermont Environmental Court status hearing that took place Feb. 3 by telephone. A court date is likely to be scheduled in the spring.

The case “appears headed to trial,” according to William Ward, director of code enforcement for the city of Burlington.

“I was asked by the City Attorney to provide my “unavailable dates” for April and May,” Ward said via email. “This suggests to me that the court date will be selected by the judge once he or she determines when both sides are available. No specified date has been given to me yet.”

The city is seeking court permission to order backyard debris cleared and collect fines stemming from repeated zoning violations at 164 Dodds Court. Complaints about the property go back eight years and maximum fines could total $164,000 according to an affidavit of probable cause.

The house is owned by Jean Vento, according to public records. She resides there with her husband Arthur Vento, who in a recent interview with the Burlington Free Press said he sought help to deal with a hoarding problem in the past and now feels he has made progress on dealing with the zoning issues. The Ventos have paid $5,200 in penalties in response to city zoning enforcement actions.

The city contends the Ventos have neither resolved the problem nor fulfilled the terms of a settlement the two sides brokered a few years ago. The city is pursuing remedies under zoning rules that prohibit accumulation of garbage, trash, abandoned vehicles, appliances and furniture.